Juan_Antonio_Pizzi

Juan Antonio Pizzi

Juan Antonio Pizzi

Spanish football manager (born 1968)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pizzi and the second or maternal family name is Torroja.

Juan Antonio Pizzi Torroja (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxwan anˈtonjo ˈpisi], Italian: [ˈpittsi]; born 7 June 1968) is a retired professional footballer who played as a striker. He was most recently the head coach of the Bahrain national team.

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He spent the bulk of his club career in Spain, mainly at Tenerife, helping to the side's consolidation in La Liga and amassing top division totals of 221 matches and 92 goals over eight seasons – he also played for Valencia and Barcelona.

Born in Argentina, Pizzi represented the Spain national team for four years,[2][3] appearing with it in one World Cup and one European Championship. He embarked on a managerial career after retiring, winning the Copa América Centenario for Chile in 2016. He also coached Saudi Arabia at the World Cup in 2018 and subsequently took charge of Bahrain in 2023.[4][5]

Club career

Born in Santa Fe,[6] Pizzi started his professional career with Rosario Central, before transferring to Mexico's Deportivo Toluca.[7] After only one year, he moved to Tenerife, experiencing great individual success (a total of 30 goals in his first two seasons) while also helping the Canary Islands club to qualify for the UEFA Cup in his second year.

This performances prompted interest from fellow La Liga side Valencia, and Pizzi's subsequent purchase. However, highly unsettled, he returned at the end of the campaign to his previous team and in the second season in his second spell he fired them into another UEFA Cup qualification, topping the goal charts at 31 in 41 games[8] and adding a further five in the Copa del Rey.[9]

After that, Pizzi transferred to Barcelona. Never an undisputed starter, barred by Ronaldo, Sonny Anderson and the versatile Luis Enrique during his two-season stint, he managed to net 18 times in competitive matches, being very popular among the Camp Nou faithful.[10]

With Barcelona, Pizzi won the Supercopa de España in 1996, the UEFA Super Cup and Spanish Cup in 1997, conquering the latter again the following year while also winning his only league title. Arguably, his most memorable moment was the decisive goal in the 5–4 home win over Atlético Madrid in the domestic cup's quarter-finals second leg, after the Blaugrana trailed 3–0 at half-time.[11]

Subsequently, Pizzi returned to Argentina to play for River Plate, then had an unassuming spell in Portugal for Porto.[12][13] After starting 2001–02 back with Rosario he signed with Villarreal for its closure, as the club had lost to a severe leg injury countryman Martín Palermo.[14]

International career

Pizzi earned 22 caps for Spain and scored eight goals, his debut coming on 30 November 1994 in a 2–0 friendly win with Finland. The following 20 September, he helped to beat his country of birth Argentina 2–1, in an exhibition game played in Madrid.[15]

Pizzi was part of the squads for UEFA Euro 1996 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In the latter, after being replaced by Fernando Morientes in a 0–0 draw against Paraguay as Spain exited in the group stage, he retired from the international scene.[16]

Coaching career

Early career

After his retirement, aged almost 34, Pizzi played polo in the Barcelona region, then started his coaching career. Together with José del Solar he managed Argentine Primera División's Colón at the beginning of the Clausura 2005, but both were sacked after three losses in the first three matches.[17]

On 13 April 2006, Pizzi became the coach of Universidad San Martín in the Peruvian Primera División.[18][19] He returned to his country of birth five years later, working with Rosario Central and San Lorenzo and winning the 2013 Inicial with the latter.[20]

Valencia

On 26 December 2013, Pizzi returned to Valencia after 20 years, being appointed manager.[21][22] His first game in charge was on 4 January of the following year, a 2–0 derby home win over Levante.[23]

Pizzi was sacked on 2 July 2014, after new owner Peter Lim took over. It was the first time in 16 years that Valencia had failed to qualify for Europe, after an eighth-place finish.[24]

Chile

Pizzi and his Chile squad meeting President Michelle Bachelet after winning the Copa América Centenario

On 29 January 2016, after one year at the helm of León in the Liga MX, Pizzi replaced Jorge Sampaoli at the Chile national side.[25] He took the nation to victory in the Copa América Centenario in the United States, notably disposing of Mexico 7–0 in the last-eight stage[26] and defeating Argentina on penalties in the decisive match.[27]

Pizzi took the team to the final of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, Chile's first ever final in a FIFA competition and the fifth South American country to do so, losing 0–1 to Germany.[28][29] However, after failing to qualify for the next year's World Cup – they reached the last matchday in third place, falling to sixth following the 3–0 away loss against Brazil – he resigned.[30]

Saudi Arabia

On 28 November 2017, Pizzi was appointed to manage Saudi Arabia, becoming the third man to hold the position in as many months.[31] The team's run at the 2018 World Cup ended after the first three games (one win and two losses);[32] On 21 January 2019, after round-of-16 elimination at the AFC Asian Cup and not having been approached by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation regarding the renewal of his contract, he resigned.[33]

Later career

Pizzi returned to San Lorenzo in June 2019, six years after his first managerial spell.[34] On 31 October, he was dismissed due to poor results.[35]

On 21 January 2021, Pizzi was appointed at Racing Club.[36] His team lost the Supercopa Argentina 5–0 to River in March and the Copa de la Superliga final to Colón. He was removed by club president Víctor Blanco on 9 August after a 1–0 defeat to city rivals Independiente.[37]

On 29 June 2022, Pizzi signed a one-year contract at Al-Wasl of the UAE Pro League.[38] Having finished fifth in his only season, he returned to international management with Bahrain.[39] Under his management, Bahrain achieved the greatest success at the AFC Asian Cup since 2004, finishing top of the table of an Asian Cup for the first time ever at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, ahead of powerhouse South Korea, and only lost to a formidable Japan at the round of 16. Despite this success however, his reign ended abruptly as he was sacked a few days after Bahrain's decent performance.

Career statistics

Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pizzi goal.[15]
More information No., Date ...

Managerial statistics

As of match played 31 January 2024[40]
More information Team, Nat ...

Honours

Player

Barcelona

Porto

Individual

Manager

Universidad Católica

San Lorenzo

Chile

Individual

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Juan Antonio Pizzi at WorldFootball.net
  2. [2]
    Paradinas, Juan José (8 November 1994). "Clemente abre las puertas a los nacionalizados" [Clemente opens doors to naturalised]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 March 2014.
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    De la Riva, Mario (5 September 2016). "Los 11 jugadores nacidos fuera de España con más partidos" [The 11 players born outside of Spain with the most matches]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2016.
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    "Ex-Chile boss Pizzi makes Saudi switch". ESPN.com. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
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    "Bahrain kick off new era under Juan Antonio Pizzi". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
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    "Pizzi vuelve a un Mundial veinte años después" [Pizzi returns to a World Cup twenty years later]. Diario de Sevilla (in Spanish). 13 June 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  7. [7]
    "Juan Antonio Pizzi, un goleador fugaz del Toluca" [Juan Antonio Pizzi, Toluca's fleeting scorer] (in Spanish). Telemundo Deportes. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
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    Bravo, Luis Javier; Sillipp, Bernhard; Torre, Raúl; Di Maggio, Roberto. "Spain – List of Topscorers ("Pichichi") 1929–2015". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
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  10. [10]
    Clos, Jordi (31 January 2014). "El pasado culé de Juan Antonio Pizzi" [Juan Antonio Pizzi's culé past] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
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    Vaza, Marco (3 August 2010). "Internacionais e desconhecidos, é este o retrato dos jogadores espanhóis na Liga portuguesa" [Internationals and unknown, meet the Spanish players in the Portuguese League]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 September 2017.
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    "Pizzi (y no Zamorano) es el reemplazante de Palermo" [Pizzi (and not Zamorano) is Palermo's replacement]. El Mercurio (in Spanish). 27 December 2001. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
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    Pla Díaz, Emilio. "Juan Antonio Pizzi Torroja – Goals in International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 September 2005.
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  18. [18]
    "Pizzi asumió en Deportivo San Martín" [Pizzi took over at Deportivo San Martín] (in Spanish). Terra. 13 April 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2006.
  19. [19]
    "Juan Antonio Pizzi en el Deportivo USMP" [Juan Antonio Pizzi at Deportivo USMP] (in Spanish). Deportivo Universidad San Martín Fansite. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  20. [20]
    Merlo, Alfredo (16 December 2013). "Pizzi, de renunciado a campeón" [Pizzi, from surplus to champion] (in Spanish). Goal. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  21. [21]
    "Official VCF statement". Valencia CF. 26 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  22. [22]
    Valle, Conrado (26 December 2013). "Valencia officially announce Juan Antonio Pizzi as new coach". Diario AS. Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  23. [23]
    Campos, Tomás (4 January 2014). "¡Che, qué bueno que viniste!" [Che, so good of you to come!]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  24. [24]
    Burrows, Ben (2 July 2014). "Valencia sack Juan Antonio Pizzi after just half a season in charge at the Mestalla". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  25. [25]
    "Chile lo hace oficial: Pizzi hasta el 2018" [Chile make it official: Pizzi until 2018]. Marca (in Spanish). 30 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  26. [26]
    "Chile embarrasses Mexico, 7–0, in Copa America quarterfinal". Los Angeles Times. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  27. [27]
    Timms, Aaron (27 June 2016). "Chile win Copa América once again as Argentina title drought continues". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  28. [28]
    Rose, Gary (28 June 2017). "Portugal 0–0 Chile (0–3 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  29. [29]
    Johnston, Neil (2 July 2017). "Chile 0–1 Germany". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  30. [30]
    "Chile: Pizzi anunció que no seguirá al mando de 'La Roja'" [Chile: Pizzi announced he will not stay in charge of 'La Roja']. El Comercio (in Spanish). 10 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  31. [31]
    "Pizzi takes charge of Saudi Arabia". FIFA. 28 November 2017. Archived from the original on 30 November 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  32. [32]
    "Saudi Arabia stepped up pace to grab late win over Egypt – Juan Antonio Pizzi". ESPN. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  33. [33]
    Creek, Stephen (21 January 2019). "Pizzi quits after Saudi Arabia elimination". Sportstar. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  34. [34]
    "Oficial: Juan Antonio Pizzi vuelve a San Lorenzo" [Official: Juan Antonio Pizzi returns to San Lorenzo]. Marca (in Spanish). 1 June 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  35. [35]
    "Pizzi deja de ser entrenador del San Lorenzo de Almagro" [Pizzi is no longer San Lorenzo de Almagro manager]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 31 October 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  36. [36]
    "Juan Antonio Pizzi, nuevo entrenador de Racing de Avellaneda" [Juan Antonio Pizzi, new manager of Racing de Avellaneda]. Marca (in Spanish). 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  37. [37]
    "Juan Antonio Pizzi dejó de ser el entrenador de Racing: quiénes son los 3 principales candidatos a sucederlo" [Juan Antonio Pizzi no longer manager of Racing: who are the 3 main candidates to succeed him] (in Spanish). Infobae. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  38. [38]
    @AlWaslSC (29 June 2022). "الأرجنتيني خوان أنطونيو بيتزي مدرباً لـ #الوصل لمدة" [Argentine Juan Antonio Pizzi appointed as Al-Wasl coach for one season] (Tweet) (in Arabic). Retrieved 30 June 2022 – via Twitter.
  39. [39]
    "Pizzi takes charge of Bahrain". Asian Football Confederation. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  40. [40]
    Juan Antonio Pizzi coach profile at Soccerway
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  48. [48]
    Harz, José Pablo (6 December 2010). "Los cánticos que adornaron la celebración del título en el camarín de la UC" [The chants that embellished the title celebration in UC's locker room]. El Mercurio (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  49. [49]
    "Pizzi, mejor entrenador del mes de febrero para la Liga" [Pizzi, best manager of the month for February to the League] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
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